Twine package



F. H. KIMBALL TWINE PACKAGE Oct. 11, 1955 Filed June 19, 1953 R m m w.

FRANK H. KIMBALL ATTORNEY TWINE PACKAGE Application June 19, 1953, Serial No. 362,727

Claims. (Cl. 206-46) This invention relates to anew method of packaging a ball of twine and the like, such as a ball of string, etc., and to the resulting package.

It is customary to wrap twines, string, etc., in a ball with a hollow center. A loose end of the twine or string extends from one end of this hollow center and the ball is unwound by pulling on this loose end. As the twine unwinds internally, the diameter of the hollow center is enlarged. The entire ball can be unwound by pulling the twine or string out of the hollow center.

According to this invention, a ball of twine, etc. is packaged in film which becomes stretchable on heating, by first heating the film until it becomes stretchable and then using this to cover the end of the ball which is fur,- thest from the loose end of the twine. The film is then stretched over at least a part of the cylindrical surface of the ball, i. e. the outer surface which is parallel to the hollow center. The outlying portions of the film are then brought together in overlapping relation about the loose end of the twine. If the film is heat-sealable, pressure is applied to the overlapping surfaces of the film to adhere them to one another about this loose end, and to hold the film on the ball. If the film is not heat-scalable, a rubber band or other means is employed to hold the film in overlapped relation about the loose end of the twine. In this way an enclosure of film is formed about the ball of twine, etc. which protects it until it reaches the ultimate consumer, and which the ultimate consumer may use as a container for the twine, etc. until it has all been used. As the ultimate consumer requires some of the twine, from time to time, he pulls on the exposed loose end and withdraws more or less of the twine through the opening in the enclosure through which the loose end extends. Thus, the twine is withdrawn and used, as required, while the unused balance is retained in the film enclosure.

The invention will be further described in connection with the packaging of twine and its use, although it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but includes thepacldf ging and use of string, etc. In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side view of a finished package of twine (in the inverted position in which it is shown in Figs. 3 to 6);

Fig. 2 is an end view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Figs. 3 to 6 illustrate different steps in the method of packaging the ball of twine.

The ball 1 of twine is formed in the usual way with the loose end 2 extending from the hollow center 3. The ball is covered with the film 5 which is brought together with overlapped surfaces united at 6. Any heat-stretchable film such as rubber hydrochloride, etc. may be used. The film employed is preferably, but not necessarily, heat sealable at the temperature employed.

The package is formed by clamping an area of the film somewhat larger than the end area of the ball, between clamps 8 and 9. These clamps may be annular or any United States Patent 0 2,720,309 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 ice desired shape. They are held together by any suitable means. The area held within the clamps is then heated as by bringing a hot plate within a fraction of an inch of the film until the film is heated until it will stretch. This may be done manually or by suitable mechanism.

Then the ball of twine is pushed up into the heated film as indicated by the arrow (Fig. 3).. Alternatively, the film is pulled against the ball; or both the ball and film are moved. The heated film covers the top of the ball and stretches over its cylindrical surface 10. As the film stretches, it becomes thinner, and in the final package the film that covers the cylindrical surface 10 which is parallel to the hollow center 3, is thinner than the substantially unstretched area of film which covers the end of the ball opposite that from which the loose end 2 of the twine extends. Much or even all of the cylindrical surface of the ball is covered by stretching the film over it.

Figure 4 illustrates how the film is stretched over the ball.

The covered ball and the clamps are then turned relatively with respect to one another, using the hollow center as an axis (Fig. 5). If the film has not been stretched over the entire cylindrical surface, the balance of this surface is covered by unstretched film with overlapped surfaces which may spiral toward the loose end of the twine. In any event, the film is covered over the end of the ball toward the loose end of the twine. This produces overlapped areas over the end of the ball which may spiral somewhat toward the loose end of the twine. This is accomplished by passage of the ball completely through the area defined by the clamps and then twisting the ball with respect to the clamps, as indicated by the arrow (Fig. 5).

The film is pressed together about the loose end of the twine while it is still tacky, and by pressing the overlapped areas of the film together, as by twisting the film with respect to the ball, these areas are heat-sealed to one another about the loose end of the twine. Whether the film actually adheres to the loose end of the twine is immaterial. The unused outer portion of the film is then preferably sheared away, leaving a short collar 6 about the loose end.

In order to facilitate the wrapping of a ball of twine in the manner disclosed it will generally be desirable to stiffen the loose end which extends from the hollow center. This may be done by treating several inches of this end with starch or wax or other stiffening agent.

The film closure formed in this way protects the ball of twine in transit, and keeps it clean while on the retailers shelf and elsewhere. Any desired amount of twine may be withdrawn from the enclosure from time to time as required by simply pulling on the exposed loose end. It is therefore advantageous to keep the unused twine in the enclosure until all has been used up. This tends to keep the twine from becoming snarled with itself and tangled with other things.

Although twine is mentioned specifically in the claims and in the detailed description of the invention given in connection with the drawings, it is obvious that the claims are to be construed to include like materials such as string, etc.

What I claim is:

l. The method of packaging a ball of twine having a hollow center and a loose end of the twine extending from one end thereof, using a sheet of heat-stretchable wrapping film, which comprises heating the film until it is stretchable, covering the opposite end of the hollow center with the heated film, and stretching it over at least a part of the cylindrical wall of the ball. parallel to the hollow center, and then bringing the outlying areas of the film together in overlapping relation at the end of the hollow center from which said loose end extends, and

fastening the overlapped surfaces together about the loose end.

2. The method of packaging a ball of twine having a hollow center and a loose end of the twine extending from one end thereof, using rubber hydrochloride film, which comprising heating the film until it is tacky and stretchable, covering the opposite end of the hollow center with the heated film and stretching the film over at least a portion of the cylindrical wall of the ball parallel to the hollow center, and then while using the hollow center as an axis turning the film and the ball with respect to one another thereby bringing the film together in overlapping relation about the loose end of the twine and pressing the overlapped surfaces of the film together to unite them to one another about the loose end.

3. A ball of twine with a hollow center having a loose end of the twine extending from one end thereof, wrapped with a sheet of heat-stretchable wrapping film which covers the ball substantially symmetrically with respect to the hollow center, all edges of the film brought together, overlapped and adhered together about said loose end, the film being thicker over the opposite end of the center than over the cylindrical wall, parallel to the hollow center.

4. The wrapped ball of twine of claim 3 in which the film is rubber hydrochloride film and the overlapped surfaces of the film are heat sealed to one another.

5. The wrapped ball of twine of claim 3 in which the loose end extending from the hollow center is stiffened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,685,393 Beadle Sept. 25, 1928 1,937,468 Talbot Nov. 28, 1933 2,342,977 Snyder Feb. 29, 1944 2,385,257 Cavallito Sept. 18, 1945 2,461,703 Spanel Feb. 15, 1949 

